24 HOURS OF LE MANS – At night, Glickenhaus bluffs his world during free practice 2

It is a stopwatch in the form of a warning. The American team Glickenhaus, which has continued to show itself since the start of the week, is not at Le Mans to make up the numbers. A few hours after seeing the Toyota N.7 – defending champion – dominate qualifying, the American team’s N.708 surprised the Toyota N.7 and N.8 by setting the fastest time in the second qualifying session. free practice at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on Wednesday, the first night.

His time of 3’28”900 signed by the Frenchman Romain Dumas makes it possible to announce the color since the hypercar has achieved a better time than in 2021 at this stage of the race. And to confirm an impression left throughout the day on Thursday: the two Glickenhaus, yet Tom Thumbs in the queen category of hypercars, are many outsiders not to be taken lightly. And seem more armed to compete with the Toyota than the Alpine, which finishes behind the American N.709, in fifth place.

Ogier tests himself at night

Behind the Glickenhaus N.708 driven by Olivier Pla, Romain Dumas and Felipe Derani, the Toyota N.7 secured the second fastest time at the very end of the session (3’29”164) while the Toyota N. 8 had to settle for the third fastest time after a little scare: Brendon Hartley made a mistake by going straight into a bend, before setting off again without incident.

In the LMP2 category, it was again the WRT N.31 which went fastest, led by Dane Michael Christensen, Frenchman Kevin Estre and Belgian Laurens Vanthoor, clinching sixth place in 3’33”119. Sébastien Ogier – who did not drive during qualifying – was able to take the pulse of the night with the Richard Mille n°1, which however only set the 12th fastest time – the 7th in its category – in these tests.

In LMGTE Pro, the N.63 Corvette — which was already in front at the end of the first free practice session — again dominated its category, with the Spaniard Antonio Garça, the American Jordan Taylor and the Dutchman Nicky Catsburg in 3’53”250. Finally Team Project N.46 of Italian Matteo Cairoli, Dane Mikkel Pedersen and Swiss Nicolas Leuwiler finished top of the LMGTE Am category in 3 min 55 sec 629/1000.

(Glenn Ceillier with AFP)

Classification of free practice 2:

1. Olivier Pla – Romain Dumas – Felipe Derani (FRA-FRA-BRE/Glickenhaus N.708/Hypercar) 3:28.900

2. Mike Conway – Kamui Kobayashi – Jose Maria Lopez (GBR-JPN-ARG/Toyota N.7/Hypercar/Hybrid) 3:29.164

3. Sebastien Buemi – Ryo Hirakawa – Brendon Hartley (SUI-JPN-NZL/Toyota N.8/Hypercar/hybrid) 3:29.248

4. Ryan Briscoe – Richard Westbrook – Franck Mailleux (AUS-GBR-FRA/Glickenhaus N.709/Hypercar) 3:31.440

5. André Negrao – Matthieu Vaxivière – Nicolas Lapierre (BRE-FRA-FRA/Alpine/Hypercar) 3:32.592

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32. Antonio Garcia – Jordan Taylor – Nicky Catsburg (ESP-USA-NLD/Corvette N.63/LMGTE Pro) 3:53.492

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39. Matteo Cairoli – Milkkel Pedersen – Nicolas Leutwiler (ITA-DNK-CHE/Team Project N.46/LMGTE Am) 3:55.629